NYC Is A Strange Place

Police spent Thursday searching for an accused killer who escaped from a Brooklyn police station after asking to go to the bathroom, CBS 2’s John Slattery reported.

The man who got away is 24-year-old Brandon Santana of Brooklyn, who’d just been picked up for a murder he allegedly committed two and a half years ago. Then, while in police custody on Wednesday night, he escaped.

Yolanda Santiago is the mother of Alex Santiago, who was killed in August of 2010 at 5th Avenue and 12th Street in Park Slope, attacked by a group with tire irons and crowbars.

“I’m very upset, and I’m very upset, and I want justice, and I want him caught,” Santiago said. “They were like animals. They weren’t humans. They were cowards.”

Stephanie Santiago, the victim’s fiancée, gave birth to the victim’s son, after he was killed.

Finally, roughly 30 months later, police arrested Santana, who was brought to the 78th Precinct stationhouse on 6th Avenue, where he was kept in a holding cell.

Police said Santana, who was not handcuffed, asked to go to the bathroom. According to procedure, an unarmed officer escorted him down a hallway where the officer was overpowered and the Santana ran out the front door.

“I’d just like to know where were the other officers? There’s only one in the precinct and he got away?” Yolanda Santiago said.

Of course, there were more officers, and a lieutenant gave chase but Santana got away.

“It hurts to know we were so close to getting justice and then for this to happen,” Stephanie Santiago said.

Santana’s old neighborhood was crawling with detectives, trying to get a lead on the escapee’s whereabouts.

He’s 5-foot-11 and weighs 200 pounds. He has short brown hair and brown eyes.

At this point, the officer who was overpowered is not facing any disciplinary action, police said.

Anyone with information on where he might be should call police or Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.